Clutch plate



IAug- 1943. G. l. GOODWIN 2,327,884

CLUTCH PLATE Filed March 29, 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 nnuunlin-xsay rlie-l g aa-u "Einn' INVENTOR.

6607' e[ 6005411476, BY wzg/m/ wm Au 24, 1943. G. I. GOODWIN 2,327,884

CLUTCH PLATE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 29, 1940 F INVENTOR.

BY 6607 el 600410476 If; am fiwMm l/ Patented Aug. 24, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I w 2,327,884 V i ,QCLUTCHPLATIE A George VI. Goodwin, "Detroit, Mih Application March 29, 1940,. sen-n No. 326,753

Claims. (or. me ns?) This invention has to do with clutch plates of the type in which the frictionlfacing s are cushioned against relatively thin spring members carried by the center portion or the plate, and is particularly concerned with the shape and mounting of the spring members. V

Numerous attempts have been made in the past to produce a satisfactory clutch plate of this type.

As it is important that the spinning inertia be kept at a minimum, ithas been the practice in producing such plates to employ a disk of considerably smaller site than the'iacings, and to fasten relatively thin spring segments to the disk in outwardly projecting relation to the edge of the latter, with the projecting portions of the segments laterally crim'ped or otherwise deformed to provide the requisite cushion for the facings. and with the inner portions of the segments necked down just outwardly of the disk to lap flatly with the latter and provide relatively narrow connections which will keep the disk from interfering with the flexing of the outer portions. l

In such plates the necked down portions of the spring segments-which have been considered necessary in connection with segments of the kind in which the metal is bent alongnst'raight lines extending between the inner and outer edges of the cushioning portions of the segmentsrhave been found to reduce the strengthofthe segments to a point where failures have frequently resulted. The necked down portions are inherently weak, both in torque capacity and in axial strength, axial loads being imposed on the same whenever the axial movement of the plate as a whole is resisted by a tight, rusty or rough fit oi the spline connection at the center of the plate.

The principal object of the invention shape and. mount the spring segments as to eliminate any need for necking down and consequently weakening the attaching portions of the segments, avoid all-interference with the mounting disk in obtaining full 'fiexure of the vide an effective cushioning structure in which the spinning inertia is maintained at a minimum. Another important object of the invention is to so construct the disk or other cushioning supporting means as invention, other more specific objects will be ap parent to those skilled in the artupon 'a iull understanding oi. the improvement isto so segments, and proto permit of a material reduotion in the size of the same to keep down the.

' Several different embodiments of the invention are presented herein for the purpose of exemplification,-'butit will ofqcourse be understood that the invention is susceptible of embodiment in still other structurallymodified'forms coming equally within the scope of the appended claims.

V In the-accompanying drawings; g l Fig. 1 is a face view; of one-half of a clutch plate constructed in accordance with the invention, with-a portion of one of the friction facings broken away to expose the underlying spring segmerits,- H M Fig. 2 is a fragmentary section, taken on the arcuate line 2- -2 of Fig.1;

1 Fig.- 3; is asimilar section. 1ine3-3 of Fig.1;;

Fig. 4 is a face view of one-quarter of another clutch plate. illustrating a modified form of the invention;

taken on the arcuate Fig. 5 is asirnilarview. illustrating another.

modification of the invention;

Fig. dis a section, taken 6-45 of Fig. 5, showing the specially formed facings in their uncompressed condition;

Fig. 'Lis a similar section, with the facings in their fully-compressed condition;

Fig. 3 is a face viewofone-quarter of another clutch plate, illustrating another embodiment otthe invention; I

Fig. is a section. taken on the arcuate line 9-9ofFig.8; i

Fig. 101s a face viewof lone-half of another clutch plate, illustrating another embodiment;

on the arcuate line Fig. 11 isasection, taken onthe arcuate line li- -lloiFiglO; I V 1 r Fig. 12 is a section which corresponds to Fig.

I 11 but shows a further modification; l

Figs. 13, 14 and 15 are of still other clutch plates, showing fications; I

Fig. 16 is a section, taken on the arcuate line Iii-l6 of Fig. 15; and

I Figs.,17. and 18 are faceviews of other modified spring segments. I l

The clutch plate shown in Figs. 1 to, 3 inclufurther modisive will firstbe described. This plate includes a tached in any splined hub ID, a centrally apertured disk H, a pair of annular friction facings l2 and. ,I3, and a number of spring segments. which is preferably made'of sheetmetal, is atsuitable manner to the hub l8 and is provided about its outer edgewith a number of projections l5. The disk without any spring center mechanism, but so far as :the present inve tion is concernedthe disk may include a spring center mechanism, or not,

as desired.

. The spring segments the outer edge of the disk H, in positions between the ratings i2 and i3, where face views of portions 14. The one? I I,

ii is shown as 'plain,

l4 are positioned in .an-

they provide an eflective cushion for the facings. The segments I4 are of greater radial extent than the facings I2 and I3, and are positioned with their outer edges approximately even with the outer edges of the facings andtheir inner edges some'distance inwardly from the inner.

The disk II is considerfacings, the outer edges of the projections I5 on the disk terminating short of the inner edges of the facings. The inner portions I6 of the segments I4 are lapped with and secured to the projections I5 by rivets I'I, while the outer portions I8 of the segments are fastened to the facings I2 and I3 by rivets I9 and 20, the rivets to the segments and the rivets connecting the facing I3to-the segments. The'segments are distorted to provide the desired cushion by being curved along straight bend lines 2I extending from their inner to their outer edges, and as a result of such curvature are characterized by fiat narrow center sections zz which continue edges of the facings. ably smaller than the inwardly into lapped association with the pro-.

jections I 5 and flat I narrow edge sections 23, which latter sections are located in a plane which is offset axially of the assembly with respect to the plane of the center sections 22. The center sections 22 are positioned against the back of the facing I2 and carry the rivets I9;,-while-the edge sections 23 are positioned against the back of the facing I3 and carry the rivets 20.- The facing I2 is provided with clearance apertures in register with the rivets 20 of the facing I3, while the facing I3 is provided with clearance apertures 25 in registerwith the rivets I9 of the facing I2. The inner portions I6 of the segments I4 are considerably wider than the projections I5 to which they are attached and extend circumferentially beyond the side edges of the projections into the recesses 26 present between the latter, with the axially'offset'edge sections 23 of the inner portions I6 of the segments setback into such recesses clear of the edges of thelatter.

With such an arrangement there is no need to neck down or otherwise mutilate thesegrnents adjacent their points of attachment, andthe segments are consequently better able to withstand the torsional and axial stresses to which subjected, the relatively thick projections I5 on the jections 30' to provide sufiicient area for the at taching rivets 33.

In the modification shown in Figs. 5, 6. and 7 the facings 34 and 35 and the spring segments 36 are fiat in the unrespect to those on the other. facing. When the facings are pressed together in the operation of the clutch the segments I9 connecting the facing I2 are of special construction;

I ample clearance for the as will yield resiliently from the fiat condition of the same shown in Fig. 6 to the distorted condition shown in Fig. 7. This particular modification is shown in orderv to illustrate the fact that so far as the present invention is concerned it is immaterial whethpr the spring segments are initially bent or initially flat, the improved mounting for the segments being equally effective with either type of segment.

In the modification shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the projections 33 to which the inner portions of the spring segments 39 are attached are formed as embossments, with the intervening portions 46 of the disk ofiset axially far enough to afford axially flexing edge portions 4| of the segments.

Inthe modification shown in Figs. 10 and 11 two disks or side plates 42 and 43 areemployed in place of a singledisk, and the 44 are arranged with their inner. portions 45 between the side plates. The side plates are spaced apart far enoughto, permit the required flexure of the segments (which in this particular case are shown as initially'fiat) and at intervals aboutthe edges of the side provided with confronting t'l'between which the segments are clamped and held. by transfixingv rivets 48. I

Fig. 12 showsamodification which is similar to that shown in Figs.'10 and 11 except for the fact that the side plates '49 and 50 are not embossed and the clamping surfaces 5| and 52 are instead produced by the introduction of separate, spacing members 53 and 54, which spacing members are held in place by the transfixing rivets.

; In the modification shownin Fig. 13, the spring segments 55, instead of being secured centrally to single projections. on thedisk, are each secured to two circumferentially spaced projections 56 and 51 by. rivets 58 and 59. The projections 56 are wider and consequently'stronger latter being pur-. posely made'sufficiently limber to yield circum vided. for corresponding cornersibf .the seg-" ments 6|, but the'projections Ellare madeas wide as the rigid projections 62 and are rendered limber by the provision of cutouts 63.

The modification shown in Figs; 15 and'l6 is;

also some-what similar to the modifications shown in Figs. 13 and 14' except that the projections for the attachment of'the inner corners of-the segments 64 are formed as embossed portions 65 within the edge' of the mounting disk 66 and the rigidly held corners of the segments are secured by'tightly fitted rivets 61 while the yieldably held corners areslidingly supported by shoulder rivets 68 operating in elongated slots 69 inthe' segments.

Fig. 17 shows a still 'further'modified spring segment III which, like the-segments shown in- Figs. 13 to 16 inclusive' is adapted to be attached at its inner corners by rivets passing through holes II and '72.

suitable cutouts i4. i I The modified spring segmentshown in Fig 18 15 adapted for attachment in substantially the spring segmentsv plates the latter are. embossments 46 and the latter-expand and con-' shown in Fig. 13. In this to the mounting disk,

same manner as the segment shown in Fig. 1'7, the main body portion 15 of the segment being permitted to move circumferentially with respect to the attaching corner 16 during flexing of the segment by the introduction of a deep slot 11.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that the improvement which forms the subject matter of this invention may be embodied in a great many different structural forms and combinations and that the herein described forms are merely intended to typify a few such embodiments.

I claim:

1. In a clutch facings, a disk of smaller size than the facings, and a number of relatively thin spring segments projecting outwardly from the outer edge of the disk into positions between the facings, with the inner portions of the segments attached to the disk and the outer portions of the same attached to the facings, said segments being flexible along bend lines extending between the inner and outer edges of the segments, and said disk being provided with a number of radial projections of considerably less width than the inner portions of the segments, to which said inner portions are attached at their centers only, whereby to permit flexure of the side portions of the segments throughout their radial extent without interference from the disk.

2. In a clutch plate, a pair of annular friction facings, a disk provided with a number of circumferentially spaced projections which terminate short of the facings, and cushioning means for the facings carried by the projections.

3. In a clutch plate, a pair of annular friction facings, a disk which is smaller than the openings in the facings and is provided with a number of circumierentially spaced projections which terminate short of the facings, leaving recesses at opposite sides of the projections between the outer edge of the disk and the inner edges of the facings, and cushioning means for the facings carried by the projections, with the inner portions of the cushioning means extending circumferentially beyond the side edges of the projections for resilient flexing operation in the recesses present between the latter.

4. In a clutch plate, a pair of annular friction facings, a disk provided with a number of circumferentially spaced projections which terminate short of the facings, and cushioning means for the facings carried by the projections, with the inner portions of the cushioning means extending circumferentially beyond the side edges of the projections and axially into the recesses present between the latter.

5. In a clutch plate, a pair of annular friction facings, a disk provided with a number of circumferentially spaced projections which terminate short of the facings, and cushioning means for the facings carried by the projections, said cushioning means being divided into a number of segments.

6. In a clutch plate, a pair of annular friction facings, a disk provided with a number of circumferentially spaced projections which terminate short of the facings, and cushioning means for the facings carried by the projections, said cushioning means being divided into a number of segments, and said projections spanning but relatively small portions of the inner edges of the segments.

plate, a pair of annular friction 7. In a clutch plate, a pair of annular friction f-acings, a disk provided with a number of circumferentially spaced projections which terminate short of the facings, and a number of spring segments carried by the projections for cushioning the facings.

8. In a clutch plate, a pair of annular friction facings, a disk provided with a number of circumferentially spaced projections which terminate short of the facings, and a number of spring segments carried by the projections for cushioning the facings, said segments being attached to the projections in lapped relation to the latter, with the inner edges of the segments located outwardly of the outer edge of the disk proper.

9. In a clutch plate, a pair of annular friction facings, a disk provided with a number of circumferentially spaced projections which terminate short of the facings, the facings carried by the projections, said cushioning means being resiliently flexible and being held by the projections against axial movement at their points of attachment.

10. A driven clutch plate having a hub, an intermediate annulus operatively connected thereto, said annulus having at its outer edge a plurality of projections, resiliently yieldable segments attached to the projections, the segments together forming an interrupted cushioning ring, and friction facings secured to the opposite surfaces of the segments.

11. In a clutch plate, a pair of annular friction facings, a disk provided with a number of circumferentially spaced projections which terminate short of the facings, and circumferentially waved cushioning means for the facings carried by the projections.

12. In a clutch plate, a pair of annular friction facings, a disk provided with a number of circumferentially spaced projections which terminate short of the facings, and circumferentially waved cushioning means for the facings carried by the projections, said cushioning means being divided into a number of segments.

13. In a clutch plate, a pair of annular friction facings, a disk provided with a numberof circumferentially spaced projections which terminate short of the facings, and a number of circumferentially waved spring segments carried by the projections for cushioning the facings.

14. In a clutch plate, a pair of annular friction facings, a disk provided with a number of circumferentially spaced projections which terminate short of the facings, and cushioning means for the facings carried by the projections, said cushioning means being resiliently flexible and axially distorted in the uncompressed condition of the plate and being held by the projections against axial movement at their points of attach- 1 ment.

15. A driven clutch plate having a hub, an intermediate annulus operatively connected thereto, said annulus being substantially rigid and having at its outer edge a plurality of projections, resiliently yieldable segments attached to the projections, the segments being circumferentially wavedand together forming an interrupted cushioning ring, and friction facings secured to the opposite surfaces of the segments.

GEORGE I. GIOODWIN.

and cushioning means for 

